Heat retaining device

ABSTRACT

A weapon system includes a weapon having a user actuatable mechanical feature. The weapon system includes a heat retaining device coupled to the weapon and covering the mechanical feature, the heat retaining device comprising an access configured to allow a user to actuate the mechanical feature within the interior of the heat retaining device. The weapon system includes an interior pocket within the heat retaining device configured to receive a warming device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/568,464, filed Oct. 5, 2017,and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/630,495, filed Feb.14, 2018, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND

Weapons are used in all types of environments. Often a user cannotchoose the environment they are in. For example, hunting seasons or atournament date may limit a user to a colder than ideal environment.Colder conditions can make the operation of weapons more challenging forthe user and may require the user to wear bulky and/or cumbersome attireto withstand the colder conditions. Freedom of movement and smoothoperability are essential to effective operation of these weapons.

The discussion above is merely provided for general backgroundinformation and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining thescope of the claimed subject matter.

SUMMARY

A weapon system includes a weapon having a user actuatable mechanicalfeature. The weapon system includes a heat retaining device coupled tothe weapon and covering the mechanical feature, the heat retainingdevice comprising an access configured to allow a user to actuate themechanical feature within the interior of the heat retaining device. Theweapon system includes an interior pocket within the heat retainingdevice configured to receive a warming device.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementationsthat solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one example of a weapon.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one example of a heat retainingdevice assembly.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one example of a heat retainingdevice assembly.

FIG. 4 is a more detailed view showing one example of a heat retainingdevice assembly.

FIG. 5 is a perspective showing one example of a heat retaining deviceassembly.

FIG. 6 is a more detailed view showing one example of heat retainingdevice assembly.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing one example of a heat retainingdevice assembly.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing one example of a heat retainingdevice.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing one example of a barrel sheath.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing one example of a heat retainingdevice.

FIG. 11A is a flow diagram of an operation of attaching a warming deviceto a weapon.

FIG. 11B is a flow diagram of an operation of storing a weapon with aheat retaining device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Many locations prime for hunting are located in cold climates.Similarly, many locations for recreational and competitive shooting,like target shooting and trap shooting, are located in cold climates.This requires a weapon user to dress accordingly to withstand the coldconditions. Often, a user may have to wear gloves. These gloves areusually thick and/or bulky in order to provide more resistance to thecold conditions. This makes the gloves cumbersome, which can affect theuser's dexterity while operating a weapon. For example, operating atrigger in gloves may make a shot less accurate, it may cause a timedelay in actuating mechanical features of the weapons, such as, but notlimited to, a trigger, a bolt, a safety, a slide, a pump, etc. Further,there may be danger in operating a weapon when wearing gloves, likeaccidental discharge of the weapon. The alternative would be to foregogloves and have cold hands which can pose similar problems. Anotheralternative is open finger gloves with folding mitts. However, theserequire folding back the mitt which can make a user miss a quick shot.The open finger still exposes the user's skin to the cold conditions.Also, the mitt portion of these gloves can move freely and cause excessmovement. The solution to this problem has often been hook and loop orbutton connection which can make noise, catch on unintended fabrics, andrequire the user to make extra motions in order to operate the weapon.Stillness and silence are essential in hunting.

It is desirable to have a solution that solved these various problems.One solution is to have a device coupled to a weapon that retains heaton a user's hand while allowing full, barehanded access to the triggerand/or other mechanical features of the weapon, such as a trigger, abolt, a safety, a slide, a pump, etc. This heat retaining device cancouple to various locations of the weapon, for example, the stock, thebarrel, the trigger guard, rails or holes built on to the weapon, aswell as other attachment features.

The heat retaining device can be attached by form fitting, straps,clips, snaps, hook and loop, a latch system, ties, zippers, buttons,etc. And the heat retaining device can be made of various materials,flexible or rigid, for example, neoprene, leather, fleece, canvas,webbing (e.g., MOLLE, PALS, etc.), plastics, metal, flexible rainrepelling materials, etc. The heat retaining device can be flexible,such that one size fits all, or it can have adjustment devices builtinto it, such as straps and buckles. The interior of the heat retainingdevice could include a different material than the exterior, for examplethe exterior could include a weather resistant material, while theinterior could include a material meant to provide extra warmth andcomfort, for example, fleece.

The heat retaining device fits over, or is attached to a portion of theweapon, covering some or all of the mechanical features, e.g. a trigger,action, etc. of the weapon. The heat retaining device has an accesspocket, which may be closable with, e.g. a zipper, through which theuser inserts their hand in order to access the interior of the device.The access pocket can include a slit, or opening, that allows the usershand to access the mechanical features within, or covered by, the heatretaining device. There could, in some examples, be multiple slits, oropenings, to allow for ambidextrous use of the heat retaining device.Additionally, within the interior there can be one or more interiorpockets or fasteners which are configured to couple a warming device,such as chemical or electrical hand warmers. The user can house thewarming devices within the interior pockets such that his bare hand willbe kept warm while accessing the mechanical features within, or coveredby, the heat retaining device. This allows the user greater dexterity,avoiding the problems associated with gloves, while still providingresistance to cold conditions.

The heat retaining device can be designed with various coloringpatterns, such as, camouflage which is advantageous for hunting, as wellas highly visible coloring, such as, blaze orange, blaze pink, or safetyyellow which is advantageous for safety purposes while in the woods, oron a range, for example, as well as matching the coloring of the weapon,or any other color desired by the user. Furthermore, the device can becompatible with various weapons, for example, shotguns, rifles,handguns, bows, etc.

Also provided is a barrel sheath meant to cover the barrel of a weaponwhile the weapon is in a storage or transport position. This coveringprovides protection for the weapon, reducing the risk of damage, safetysuch that the weapon is less accessible during storage or transport, andcompliance with gun laws and local ordinances.

The barrel sheath can be attached to the weapon at various locations,such as, the stock, the barrel, the trigger guard, rails or holes builton to the weapon, as well as other attachment features. The barrelsheath can be attached to the weapon by form fitting, straps, clips,snaps, hook and loop, a latch system, ties, zippers, buttons, etc. Andthe barrel sheath can be made of various materials, flexible or rigid,for example, ballistic nylon, neoprene, leather, fleece, canvas, webbing(e.g., MOLLE, PALS, etc.), plastics, metal, flexible rain repellingmaterials, etc. The barrel sheath can be flexible, such that one sizefits all, or it can have adjustment devices built into it, such asstraps and buckles. Furthermore, the barrel sheath can be interactivewith the heat retaining device such that it is coupled to the heatretaining device in order to secure it to the weapon. The barrel sheathcan be coupled to the heat retaining device by hook and loop, a latchsystem, straps, clips, snaps, ties, zippers, buttons, etc.

The barrel sheath can be designed with various coloring patterns, suchas, camouflage which is advantageous for hunting, as well as highlyvisible coloring, such as, blaze orange, blaze pink, or safety yellowwhich is advantageous for safety purposes while in the woods, or on arange, for example, as well as matching the coloring of the weapon orthe heat retaining device, or any other color desired by the user.Furthermore, the barrel sheath can be compatible with various weapons,for example, shotguns, rifles, handguns, etc.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one example of a weapon. Weapon 10includes trigger 12, trigger guard 14, safety 16, actuator 18, pump 20,magazine cap 22, stock 24, barrel 26, ejection port 28, butt 30, frontsight 32, attachment devices 34 and 36, magazine loading port 38,magazine 40 and receiver 42. Weapon 10 is loaded with ammunition firstby retracting pump 20 after depressing actuator 18 which allowsretraction of pump 20 which opens ejection port 28. A shell is loadedinto ejection port 28 or magazine loading port 38, pump 20 is pushedforward closing ejection port 28 and the ammunition is pushed intobarrel 26 where it is stopped by a primer cap having a diameter widerthan an inside diameter of barrel 26. More ammunition is loaded intomagazine loading port 38 until magazine 40 is full, the ammunition beingcontained in magazine 40 by magazine cap 36. When ammunition is spent,the user retracts pump 20 ejecting the spent ammunition from ejectionport 28, pushes pump 20 forward which loads another round of ammunitionfrom magazine 40 into barrel 26 as ejection port 28 closes. The user isable to spend a round of ammunition by engaging safety 16 into a firingposition and actuating trigger 12 which in turn engages a firing pin,housed within receiver 42, which strikes a primer on the ammunitioncausing an explosion of propellent within the ammunition which sends theprojectile (e.g. the shot within a shotgun shell or a bullet) downbarrel 26 and out the end of barrel 26 towards a target. The target canbe aimed at by a sight, such as front sight 32. Trigger guard 14 is asafety feature which protects trigger 12 from accidental actuation,reducing the chance of undesired discharge of weapon 10. Stock 24 andbutt 30 reduce the recoil pressure from firing ammunition and give theuser the ability to firmly grip and hold weapon 10 in place for accuratefiring. This is generally done by firmly placing butt 30 against thedominant shoulder and hanging on to grip portion 44 of stock 24.

Many weapons, like weapon 10, contain multiple mechanical features, liketriggers, pumps, bolts, safeties, magazines, magazine loading ports,barrel selectors, etc. These features often require dexterity and finemotor skill for efficient operation. Cold conditions can make thisdifficult. By exposing the hands to cold conditions, they can becomenumb and swollen, making it difficult for the user to accurately placeand effectively move his fingers. The usual solution to this is wearingcold weather attire, like thick and bulky gloves. However, even whilewearing gloves similar problems occur. For example, accurate firingrequires the user to squeeze the trigger without jerking the weapon.Thick gloves can make it difficult to access the trigger within thetrigger guard, and thereby increase the chances of pulling the trigger,instead of squeezing, as well as jerking the weapon. A solution isneeded that allows the user the dexterity of bare handedness, whileproviding resistance to cold conditions.

While FIG. 1 shows a pump shotgun for illustrative examples, it is to beunderstood that any form of weapon could be used in conjunction with theheat retaining device and barrel sheath, such as, rifles, handguns,bows, etc.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one example of a heat retainingdevice assembly. Heat retaining device assembly 100 includes heatretaining device 102 and barrel sheath 104. Heat retaining device 102fits over stock 110 of the weapon and is coupled to the weapon. Barrelsheath 104 fits over the barrel of the weapon and is coupled to the heatretaining device 102. Barrel sheath 104 may be coupled to heat retainingdevice 102 using hook and loop, straps, clips, snaps, a latch system,zippers, buttons, etc., in order to couple barrel sheath 104 to heatretaining device 102 while allowing barrel sheath 104 to be removable.Additionally, barrel sheath 104 can be attached only to the weapon, orto the weapon and the heat retaining device. Barrel sheath 104 could beform fit over barrel, or held on by, for example, zippers, ties, straps,etc. Barrel sheath 104 can be made of a resistive material, likeballistic nylon, or it can be made of the same material as heatretaining device 102. Barrel sheath 104 can be camouflaged, colored inbright materials like blaze orange, blaze pink, or safety yellow, orcolored to match weapon or to match heat retaining device 102. Barrelsheath 104 covers the barrel of the weapon for purposes of safety,protecting the weapon from damage, and compliance with gun laws andordinances.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one example of a heat retainingdevice assembly. FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 except that barrel sheath104 has been removed. Barrel sheath 104 can be removed during operationof weapon 106. Heat retaining device assembly 200 includes heatretaining device 102, weapon 106, trigger area 108, and barrel 112. Heatretaining device 102 fits over the stock of weapon 106 and coverstrigger area 108 of weapon 106. Heat retaining device 102 may be coupledto weapon 106 at various locations, such as, the trigger guard, thestock, the barrel, holes or rails built on to the weapon, etc. Heatretaining device 102 can be attached by form fitting, ties, straps,clips, snaps, buttons, zippers, etc.

FIG. 4 is a more detailed view showing one example of a heat retainingdevice assembly. Heat retaining device assembly 300 includes heatretaining device 102, weapon 106, trigger area 108 (which includes atrigger and a trigger guard), and access pocket 114. Heat retainingdevice 102 fits over the stock of weapon 106 and covers trigger area108. During operation a user inserts their hand through access pocket114 and has access to trigger area 108 within heat retaining device 102.Access pocket 114 could remain open, or it could be closable with theuse of hook and loop, buttons, snaps, and any other suitable techniques.Access pocket 114 allows the user access to trigger area 108, this slitcould be comprised of fleece to add additional warmth and could furthercontain a pocket configured to house a warming device, such as, chemicalor electrical hand warmers. Heat retaining device 102 can be made ofvarious materials, flexible or rigid. These materials could include, butare not limited to, neoprene, fleece, canvas, webbing, plastic, metal,rain repelling materials, etc.

Within heat retaining device 102 is an interior pocket that can house awarming device, such as chemical or electrical hand warmers. Thiswarming device provides the user resistance to cold conditions whilestill allowing the mobility and dexterity of a bare hand. Further, Heatretaining device 102 can be camouflaged, colored in bright materialslike blaze orange, blaze pink, or safety yellow, or colored to match theweapon or to match barrel sleeve 104.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing one example of a heat retainingdevice assembly. Heat retaining assembly 400 includes heat retainingdevice 202, barrel sheath 204, access pocket 214 and zipper 216. Barrelsheath 204 fits over the barrel of the weapon. Heat retaining device 202fits over a working mechanism of the weapon (e.g., the trigger, action,etc.). Heat retaining device 202 includes access pocket 214 and zipper216. The user accesses the interior of heat retaining device 202 byplacing his hand through access pocket 214. Access pocket 214 can beopened and closed by zipper 216. While a zipper is shown in FIG. 4, anyother suitable techniques for opening and closing access pocket 214could be used. For example, hook and loop, buttons, etc.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing one example of heat retaining deviceassembly. Heat retaining device assembly 500 includes heat retainingdevice 202, barrel sheath 204, access pocket 214, zipper 216, zipper218, and pocket outline 220. Heat retaining device 202 fits over thestock of the weapon. Barrel sheath 204 fits over the barrel of theweapon. Barrel sheath 204 can be opened, closed, secured to and removedfrom the weapon by zipper 218. While a zipper is shown, any othersuitable techniques could be used. The user accesses the interior of theheat retaining device 202 by placing his hand through access pocket 214.Access pocket 214 can be open and closed by zipper 216. In someexamples, access pocket 214 has no closure device other than theelasticity of heat retaining device 202. Pocket outline 220 shows theexterior seams of the interior pocket that can house a warming devicesuch as electrical or chemical hand warmers. When user accesses theinterior of heat retaining device 202, their hand is warmed by thewarming device housed in the interior pocket, while still being able toaccess the trigger and/or other mechanical features of the weaponwithout the use of gloves.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing one example of a heat retainingdevice assembly. Heat retaining device assembly includes heat retainingdevice 202, barrel sheath 204, weapon 206, access pocket 214, zipper216, pocket outline 220, barrel sheath fastener 222, heat retainingdevice fastener 224, fastener assembly 226, and shoulder strap 228.Barrel sheath 204 is fastened to shield sleeve 202 by mating barrelsheath fastener 222 with shield sleeve fastener 224. Fasteners 222 and224 are illustratively shown as hook and loop fasteners, but in otherexamples, could also be straps, snaps, buttons, zippers, etc. Barrelsheath 204 could further be fastened to heat retaining device 202 byfastener assembly 226. Fastener assembly 226 is illustratively shown asa latch system but fasteners could also be straps, snaps, buttons, hookand loop, zippers, etc. The use of fasteners, like fasteners 222, 224and 226 help ensure that barrel sheath 204 stays on the weapon, coveringthe barrel, thereby reducing the risk of danger, damage to the weapon,and remaining compliant with gun laws and ordinances.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing one example of a heat retainingdevice. Heat retaining device 102 includes access pocket 114 and heatretaining device fastener 124. Heat retaining device 102 fits on to thestock of a weapon and is fastened to a barrel sheath by fastener 124.While hook and loop is shown in FIG. 7 other fastening techniques couldbe used as well, such as, straps, clips, buttons, snaps, a latch system,zippers, etc.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing one example of a barrel sheath 104.Barrel sheath 104 includes zipper 118 and fastener 122. Barrel sheath104 covers the barrel of a weapon and is fastened to the heat retainingdevice by fastener 122. While hook and loop is shown in FIG. 9, otherfastening techniques could be used as well, such as, straps, clips,buttons, snaps, a latch system, zippers, etc.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing one example of a heat retainingdevice. Heat retaining device 102, includes interior portion 130 andinterior pocket 132. Interior portion 130 is shown in this figure toillustrate interior pocket 132. Interior pocket 132 can house a warmingdevice such as an electrical or chemical hand warmer. The warming devicecan heat the interior of heat retaining device 102 where a user's handsare. The heat retaining device 102 itself can also provide some amountof insulation for resistance to cold conditions when the user accessesinterior portion 130 of heat retaining device 102.

FIG. 11A is a flow diagram showing an operation of attaching a warmingdevice to a weapon. Method 500 starts at block 510 where a heatretaining device is required, such as the heat retaining devicesdiscussed above. The heat retaining device can be made of neoprene 512or other suitable materials 514 such as, but not limited to, flexible orrigid materials, leather, fleece, canvas, webbing (e.g., MOLLE, PALS,etc.), hard plastics, metal, flexible rain repelling materials, etc. Theheat retaining device can be colored in a camouflage pattern, a brightpattern like blaze orange, blaze pink, or safety yellow, colored tomatch the weapon, colored to match the barrel sheath, or in any othercolor. The heat retaining device can include one or more interiorpockets, as indicated by block 516, an access pocket, as indicated byblock 518, and other can include other features as well, as indicated by519 such as, but not limited to, adjustment devices, pockets, ammunitionpouches and holders, and other attachments that could be useful to aweapon user, for example a compass, or a knife sheath.

Method 500 proceeds at block 520 where the heat retaining device isattached to the weapon. The heat retaining device can be attached withthe use of hook and loop fasteners, as indicated by block 521, formfitting 522 (usually with a flexible material), or other attachmenttechniques 523 such as, but not limited to, buttons, snaps, clips,straps, etc. The heat retaining device is attached to the weapon andconfigured to cover one or more mechanical features of the weapon, suchas, but not limited to, a trigger, a safety, a barrel selector, a pump,a bolt, etc. The heat retaining device can be attached to stock 524,trigger guard 525, or other areas of weapon 526 such as features builtinto the weapon like rails, holes, attachment devices, etc.

Method 500 proceeds at block 530 where a warming device is acquired. Thewarming device can be an electrical device, as indicated by block 531, achemical device, as indicated by block 532, or can be other devices aswell, as indicated by block 533 such as, but not limited to, fuel-baseddevices. In one example, no warming device is used and insulation of theheat retaining device keeps the user's hands warm by retaining bodyheat.

Method 500 proceeds at block 540 where the warming device is coupled tothe weapon. As indicated by block 541, the warming device can be coupledto the weapon via heat retaining device. For example, the warming devicemay be disposed inside the heat retaining device. As another example,the warming device may be disposed in a pocket of the heat retainingdevice. As another example, the warming device may be coupled to theheat retaining device via a fastener (e.g., hook and look, strap, etc.).As indicated by block 542, the warming device can be directly coupled tothe weapon directly. For example, a strap couples the warming device tothe weapon. As indicated by block 543, the warming device can be coupledto the weapon in other ways as well.

FIG. 11B is a flow diagram of an operation of storing a weapon with aheat retaining device. Method 550 starts at block 560 where the warmingdevice is removed from the interior pocket of the heat retaining deviceafter the user is finished operating the weapon.

Method 550 proceeds at block 570 where a barrel sheath, such as thosediscussed above, is acquired. The barrel sheath could be made ofballistic nylon 571 or other material 572 such as, but not limited to,neoprene, leather, flexible or rigid materials, fleece, canvas, webbing(e.g., MOLLE, PALS, etc.), hard plastics, metal, flexible rain repellingmaterials, etc. The barrel sheath can be colored in a camouflagepattern, a bright pattern like blaze orange, blaze pink, or safetyyellow, colored to match the weapon, colored to match the heat retainingdevice, or in any other color.

Method 550 proceeds at block 580 where the barrel sheath is placed overthe barrel. This is done to protect the weapon from damage, preventaccess to mechanical features of the weapon for safety reasons, and tocomply with gun laws and local ordinances.

Method 550 proceeds at block 590 where the barrel sheath is secured tothe weapon. The barrel sheath can be secured to the weapon by attachingit to the attached heat retaining device, as indicated by block 594. Thebarrel sheath can be secured by attaching it to a feature of weapon asindicated by block 595, such as, but not limited to, the trigger guard.The barrel sheath can be attached in other ways as well as indicated byblock 596. For example, attachment to both the weapon and the heatretaining device, form fitting, or using friction fit by tightening witha zipper or string system, etc. The barrel sheath can be attached usinghook and loop fasteners, as indicated by block 591. The barrel sheathcan be attached using a latch system, as indicated by block 592. Thebarrel sheath can be attached using other techniques as well, as well asindicated 593. For example, but not limited to, straps, clips, buttons,snaps, hook and loops, zippers, etc. The method ends after the barrelsheath has been secured to the weapon.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. And although the subject has been describedin language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts,it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appendedclaims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or actsdescribed above. Rather, the specific features and acts described aboveare disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A weapon system comprising: a weapon having auser actuatable mechanical feature; a heat retaining device coupled tothe weapon and covering the mechanical feature, the heat retainingdevice comprising an access configured to allow a user to actuate themechanical feature within the interior of the heat retaining device; andan interior pocket within the heat retaining device configured toreceive a warming device.
 2. The weapon system of claim 1, wherein theuser actuatable mechanical feature comprises one or more of thefollowing: a trigger; a bolt; a magazine; a safety; a pump; and a slide.3. The weapon system of claim 1, wherein the heat retaining devicecomprises neoprene.
 4. The weapon system of claim 1, wherein the heatretaining device is coupled to the weapon by a hook and loop fastener.5. The weapon system of claim 1, wherein the heat retaining device iscoupled to the weapon by one or more straps.
 6. The weapon system ofclaim 1, wherein the heat retaining device comprises a flexiblematerial.
 7. The weapon system of claim 1, wherein the heat retainingdevice comprises a rigid material.
 8. The weapon system of claim 1,wherein the heat retaining device couples to the weapon at a buttstockof the weapon.
 9. The weapon system of claim 1, wherein the accessfurther comprises a closure device.
 10. The weapon system of claim 1,wherein the closure device comprises a zipper.
 11. The weapon system ofclaim 1, wherein the closure device comprises an elastic portion of theheat retaining device.
 12. The weapon system of claim 1, wherein theclosure device comprises a hook and loop fastener.
 13. The weapon systemof claim 1, wherein the warming device is an electrical hand warmer. 14.The weapon system of claim 1, wherein the warming device is a chemicalhand warmer.
 15. A heat retaining device, the heat retaining devicecomprising: a body configured to be coupled to a weapon; an accesspocket configured to allow user access to an interior of the body; andan interior pocket within the interior of the body configured to receivea warming device.
 16. The heat retaining device of claim 13, wherein theaccess pocket is formed as a slit in the body.
 17. The heat retainingdevice of claim 13, wherein the body further comprises insulation. 18.The heat retaining device of claim 15, wherein the interior pocketcomprises a closure device, that when actuated closes the pocket suchthat the warming device is retained in the pocket until the closuredevice is actuated to an open position.
 19. A method of attaching awarming device to a weapon, the method comprising: attaching a heatretaining device to a weapon, the heat retaining device containingheating element storage component; and coupling a heating element to theheating element storage component.
 20. The method of claim 19, whereinattaching the heat retaining device to the weapon comprises: expanding aportion of a body of the heat retaining device; and contracting theportion on the weapon.